Do you think Durant and Golden State subconciously threw the playoffs?

[LarBrd33]

I'm not saying they set out to intentionally lose... but Woj reported all the way back in February that this was something both sides were serious about doing.  Since the signing they have said this is something they were thinking about for a long time.

During the last three games of Western Conference Finals, I joked that Durant was playing like a guy who just realized he might accidentally get himself stuck in Oklahoma by beating the Warriors.  They subsequently blew a 3-1 lead.  I can't imagine Durant could have left OKC for Golden State had the Thunder made the Finals.

Then in the Finals, whether or not you want to blame a lot of it on Barnes realizing the team was pushing to replace him (he was pretty terrible in the Finals), the fact that they blew that 3-1 lead is interesting.  Again, I'm not saying they did it intentionally.  But it would have been a much harder sell for Durant to be joining a team that literally won back-to-back championships.   

What do you think?  Do you think both sides subconsciously sacrificed the playoffs this year so they could be married together in an unstoppable dynasty for the next decade?   Do you think it was as simple as the uncertainty of the future hovering over the proceedings as a mild distraction?  Or do you think it was just a fluke that both sides choked away 3-1 leads?

[knuckleballer]

I think there could be something to Barnes knowing his teammates were scheming to replace him and his poor performance.  As you said, not intentional, but that has to weigh on you.

[BudweiserCeltic]

No.

[jambr380]

Based on Durant's apparent reason for choosing GSW (wanting an easy chip), I think it would have solidified his positioning more - rather than wasting all these teams' time - if they had won a 2nd championship; there would have been no doubt he would get one next year.

You may be on to something with Durant losing to GSW, although that probably has as much to do with Durant and Westbrook being career losers more than anything else.

[Ogaju]

I did not want to start this thread, but I have wondered 'who will bell the cat?'.

I think there is more to subconscious at work here. I do not think GSW threw anything, they just got beat. KD on the other hand? Just watch the end of game six.

[greece66]

Yes, winning a chip with OKC would have been turrible for Durant's reputation; thank god he listened to Larbrd's advice and """"subconsciously"""" threw the WCF so that he could get away from this mess 

[mctyson]

What do you think? 

I wouldn't go as far as suggesting that the series, or any game or even a play, was "thrown."  Even subconsciously.

However, this is the main criticism of Durant going to GSW.  How do you join a team that you had beat, you had them down on the canvas, only to underperform and give the series away?  It's would be like Mariano Rivera joining the Red Sox in 2005. 

[Surferdad]

Um, let me think for 50 microseconds.  Nope.

[Moranis]

This is perhaps the dumbest idea you've ever had and I mean that from a place of love. 

There is no way anyone loses a championship on purpose in any manner.  None at all because it might very well be your only opportunity (see Dan Marino).  It is hard to even get in a position to win a championship, you never intentionally, subconsciously, or any other ly try to lose.  Period.

[footey]

This is perhaps the dumbest idea you've ever had and I mean that from a place of love. 

There is no way anyone loses a championship on purpose in any manner.  None at all because it might very well be your only opportunity (see Dan Marino).  It is hard to even get in a position to win a championship, you never intentionally, subconsciously, or any other ly try to lose.  Period.

100%

[meangreenmachine]

While it is almost surely the case that Durant to Golden State does not happen if OKC does not blow a 3-1 lead and Golden State does not blow a 3-1 lead, I seriously doubt anybody subconsciously threw the playoffs. But the thing about subconscious actions...

[GratefulCs]

I don't think so


But if anyone did, it would be durant so that he could get out of okc


There's no way the warriors threw the finals



When you're there, you gotta play to win it all (you PLAY to WIN The GAME)


They just flat out lost, in my opinion

[LarBrd33]

This is perhaps the dumbest idea you've ever had and I mean that from a place of love. 

Definitely not the dumbest idea I've had.

And I think Durant was mentally checked out of OKC this year.  I think it impacted him in the playoffs.    He clearly was done playing with Westbrook.  Hard to leave if you accidentally upset the Warriors in the playoffs.

Also, it's hard to look at Barnes stats in the Finals, him knowing his role on that team heading forward, and not think that it impacted his performance.   

[Moranis]

This is perhaps the dumbest idea you've ever had and I mean that from a place of love. 

Definitely not the dumbest idea I've had.

And I think Durant was mentally checked out of OKC this year.  I think it impacted him in the playoffs.    He clearly was done playing with Westbrook.  Hard to leave if you accidentally upset the Warriors in the playoffs.

Also, it's hard to look at Barnes stats in the Finals, him knowing his role on that team heading forward, and not think that it impacted his performance.

outside factors affect performance all the time in all careers, but it is not a subconscious effort to lose.  If you and your wife get into a serious fight right before you go into the office, you aren't going to be on your game and might mess something up, but that doesn't mean you subconsciously tried to mess up at work.

[CelticSooner]

Is that the excuse Curry is using now? I thought he was just hurt??